Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup

This is a delicious soup made from scratch which boasts cheese tortellini, chicken stock, fresh spinach and more, guaranteeing great flavors in every mouthful.

If you’re craving more cozy soups, also try Italian lentil soup or slow cooker lasagna soup, ground turkey vegetable soup, or cabbage vegetable soup.

Why You’ll Love It

Easy: Although this soup takes a while to cook, it’s easy to make and mostly just involves prepping the ingredients and adding them to the pot.
Tasty: You’ll be bowled over with the incredible flavor this sausage tortellini soup offers. It combines an array of fantastic ingredients for plenty of flavor.
Nutritious: Fresh vegetables, chicken broth, tomatoes and more ensure this is a nutritious choice as well as a very tasty one.

Sausage Tortellini Soup Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Italian sausage: Take your pick from mild or spicy.
Tortellini: Fresh or frozen – either works just fine in this recipe.
Apple cider vinegar: Optional but handy for deglazing the pan.
Butter: To caramelize the onions.
Vegetables: Onion, spinach or kale and carrots add color, flavor and nutrients.
Garlic: Adds an aromatic savory flavor.
Chicken broth: You can use homemade or store-bought.
Seasonings: Italian seasoning, paprika and red pepper flakes flavor the soup perfectly.
Tomatoes: Fresh tomatoes and tomato paste add subtle sweetness to the dish.

How to Make Sausage Tortellini Soup

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Caramelize the onions: Melt butter in a large pot and add sliced onions, letting them cook until browned, adding a little salt and stirring often. Add a splash of apple cider vinegar and scrape up any stuck-on bits of onion.
Cook the sausage: Brown the sausage in the same pan, then add the garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, and red pepper flakes, and cook for a few minutes.
Add broth and veggies: Add the carrots and chicken broth to the Italian sausage soup and cook until the carrots are tender.
Add the tomatoes and pasta: Add the cheese tortellini and simmer until the pasta is done.
The finishing touches: Stir in the diced tomatoes and tomato paste, and the spinach and kale. Cover the pot so the greens can wilt. Add more salt and/or pepper if needed, then serve the sausage tortellini soup garnished with parmesan cheese and some fresh basil.

Substitutions and Variations

Italian sausage: You can choose from sweet, mild or hot Italian sausage as you prefer.
Italian seasoning: Instead of the Italian seasoning, you can use dried basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and sage instead.
Vegetables: You can omit either the fresh spinach or kale, or use a different kind of greens altogether. Peas, green beans, bell peppers, and celery are good in sausage tortellini soup.
Add beans: White beans would be good in this sausage soup recipe.

Serving Suggestions

As an appetizer: Serve small portions of this soup before any main course, perhaps steak pizzaiola, chicken scarpariello or a fennel and asparagus salad.
As the main dish: Pair the soup with some crusty bread and/or a simple salad.

How to Store Tortellini Soup

Store: Leftovers should be stored separately from the soup, else they will become soggy. The soup (and the tortellini in another container) will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheat: Put the tortellini back in the soup and warm gently in a pan on the stove or in the microwave.
Freeze: You can freeze the soup (again, it’s best to keep the pasta separate).
Thaw: Defrost it overnight in the refrigerator.